School apologises after teacher chops off student’s hair for going against uniform code

RATCHABURI, THAILAND: A secondary school in Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi Province, has come under fire after a teacher chopped off a female student’s hair as punishment for violating the school’s hairstyle regulations.

The incident, which took place on Monday (July 14), sparked a wave of criticism online, leading the school to issue a public apology.

The controversy began when a photo of the student, whose hair had been unevenly chopped, surfaced on a Facebook group. The image showed the student’s hair crudely cut as a result of the teacher using a pair of school scissors.

The post accompanying the photo questioned the reasonableness of the teacher’s actions, saying: “Regarding the incident of cutting students’ hair, is this reasonable? I know the school has school rules, but this is really too much. Students also have feelings. This matter needs to be resolved, and students should not be forced to cut their hair or use scissors that cut paper to cut hair.”

According to a report from Bangkok Radio and Television Channel 7, the teacher justified her actions by stating that the student’s long hair violated school regulations and reflected poorly on the school. The explanation fueled public backlash, with many netizens condemning the punishment as excessive and humiliating.

In response to the growing criticism, the school released a statement expressing “deep regret and sincere apology” for the incident.

“This incident has been a valuable lesson,” the school said, “The school will review and improve the student disciplinary process to ensure it is carried out more appropriately. We will also provide training for teachers and staff to promote better understanding of students’ rights and the importance of care and respect.”